Experts caution that even though nicotine pouches are considered a healthier alternative to smoking, they are not risk-free.
These pouches are intended to assist individuals in reducing their smoking habits or for those who desire a nicotine experience without the associated smoke smell.
Their usage involves placing a pouch under the upper lip, allowing it to rest against the gums to gradually release nicotine before eventual disposal.
While they might aid in smoking cessation, experts warn that they could serve as a gateway to nicotine use for individuals who have not used these products before, potentially leading to unintended harm.
Vaughan Rees from Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health suggests that products such as Zyn pouches might attract younger users because they appear to pose fewer risks compared to traditional smoking, yet they are not without problems.
The effects on the body are concerning, as despite being marketed as healthier compared to cigarettes, they still do not represent a completely safe choice.
Rees states, “Zyn presents significantly lower health risks than smoking, because it does not contain cancer-causing chemicals and other toxic substances found in cigarette smoke.”
“So Zyn may offer adult smokers who have not been able to quit smoking a way to reduce their exposure to the toxic chemicals that cause disease, including cancer.”
However, these pouches are highly addictive and may increase the risk of cardiovascular disease in individuals who have not previously smoked.
Dr. Donna Shelley of New York University School of Global Public Health emphasizes that these products are not entirely ‘safe’.
“Some of the negative health effects of the nicotine pouches include gastrointestinal symptoms, like nausea, gum soreness and ulcers, and also some cardiovascular risks like elevated heart rate,” explained Shelley.
She further mentioned, “We don’t know the full safety profile yet.”
Overall, these nicotine pouches can still lead to significant health issues.
In general, nicotine use can cause various health problems:
The absence of cancer-causing chemicals or tobacco in these pouches, unlike cigarettes, might unintentionally make them more attractive to non-smokers.
“Usually when you say that something is free of something, it makes it seem less harmful,” noted Tory Spindle from Johns Hopkins School of Medicine.
He told NBC News: “Our concern is that, well, does that make them more appealing to someone that otherwise would have never tried any tobacco product?”
He expressed concern about the “challenge” of making these products available to individuals without inadvertently causing a new wave of nicotine addiction.
Rees advises: “Teens and young adults who do not smoke or vape should avoid this product.”
The sales of Zyn and similar products have significantly increased recently, with 131 million cans sold in the first quarter of this year alone—a rise of 80 percent compared to last year.
Philip Morris, which acquired Zyn, stated that it is committed to producing products like Zyn that are scientifically validated as better alternatives to smoking.
They also mentioned that “Zyn’s marketing is directed toward legal age nicotine users who are 21+.”
UNILAD has reached out to Philip Morris, the company behind Zyn, for further comments.